Pipe facing machine system

Abstract

A pipe facing machine (PFM) system includes a PFM and a hydraulic power source having a single hydraulic pump arranged to provide a hydraulic oil flow to the PFM via single hydraulic circuit. The PFM includes a body defining an axis and a cutting head arranged to rotate and translate relative to the axis. Drive systems are arranged to drive clamping of the PFM on a workpiece, rotation of the cutting head about the axis, and translation of the cutting head along the axis. A hydraulic controller includes a plurality of control elements and hydraulically connects the drive systems. The hydraulic controller is arranged to direct and regulate hydraulic oil flow between the drive systems and the hydraulic controller based on signals from the control elements and a computer control system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pipe facing machine system comprising:
 a pipe facing machine including: 
 a body defining an axis; 
 a mandrel assembly mounted to the body and arranged to clamp the pipe facing machine on a workpiece; 
 a cutting head mounted on the body and arranged to rotate and translate relative to the axis; 
 a plurality of drive systems comprising a clamping drive system arranged to drive clamping of the mandrel assembly on the workpiece, a rotary drive system arranged to drive rotation of the cutting head about the axis, and a linear drive system arranged to drive translation of the cutting head along the axis; 
 a hydraulic controller connected to the body, the hydraulic controller comprising a plurality of control elements in communication with a control system configured to direct and regulate hydraulic oil flow to controllably drive operation of the drive systems, and the hydraulic controller including a manifold hydraulically connecting the rotary drive system, the linear drive system, and the clamping drive system; 
 and a hydraulic power unit having a single fixed gear hydraulic pump arranged to supply a hydraulic oil flow to the hydraulic controller via a single hydraulic circuit having only a single supply line and a single return hydraulically connected to the single fixed gear hydraulic pump, 
 wherein the control system includes memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause the hydraulic controller to direct a priority hydraulic oil flow from the hydraulic oil flow to one or more priority hydraulic functions of at least the clamping drive system to drive clamping to the workpiece, and then to direct a remaining hydraulic flow from the hydraulic oil flow to one or more non-priority hydraulic functions of at least the rotary drive system, wherein the remaining hydraulic flow is greater than the priority flow. 
 
     
     
       2. The pipe facing machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic controller is arranged to direct the priority hydraulic oil flow from the hydraulic oil flow to the one or more priority hydraulic functions if the clamping drive system is activated, and then direct the remaining hydraulic flow to the one or more non-priority hydraulic functions. 
     
     
       3. The pipe facing machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the control elements return the hydraulic oil flow to the hydraulic power unit via the single hydraulic circuit when a selected maximum pressure is reached within the pipe facing machine. 
     
     
       4. The pipe facing machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more priority hydraulic functions comprise a clamping function in which the clamping drive system drives the clamping of the mandrel assembly on the workpiece, a feed function in which the linear drive system drives the translation of the cutting head along the axis, and a jog rotate function in which the rotary drive system drives rotation of the cutting head for positioning tool modules carried on the cutting head. 
     
     
       5. A pipe facing machine system comprising:
 a pipe facing machine including: 
 a body defining an axis; 
 a cutting head mounted on the body and arranged to rotate and translate relative to the axis; 
 a plurality of drive systems comprising a clamping drive system arranged to drive clamping of the pipe facing machine on a workpiece, a rotary drive system arranged to drive rotation of the cutting head about the axis, and a linear drive system arranged to drive translation of the cutting head along the axis; 
 a hydraulic controller connected to the body, the hydraulic controller comprising a plurality of control elements in communication with a control system configured to direct and regulate hydraulic oil flow to controllably drive operation of the drive systems, and the hydraulic controller including a manifold hydraulically connecting the rotary drive system, the linear drive system, and the clamping drive system; and 
 a hydraulic power unit having a single fixed gear hydraulic pump arranged to supply a hydraulic oil flow to the hydraulic controller via a single hydraulic circuit having only a single supply line and a single return hydraulically connected to the single fixed gear hydraulic pump, 
 wherein the control system includes memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause the hydraulic controller to direct a priority hydraulic oil flow from the hydraulic oil flow to one or more priority hydraulic functions of at least the clamping drive system to drive clamping to the workpiece, and then to direct a remaining hydraulic flow from the hydraulic oil flow to one or more non-priority hydraulic functions of at least the rotary drive system, wherein the remaining hydraulic flow is greater than the priority flow.